GOVERNMENT, THE SUPREME COURT and other things IN GIVAT RAM

This is a walk for all ages and includes such varied sites as the Jerusalem Bird Observatory﻿, the Rose Garden﻿, the menorah outside the Knesset, the Supreme Court building, and the Biblical displays and Noah's ark on the roof of Cinema City. And if you have time, consider visiting one of the top museums in the area - the Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book, the Bible Lands Museum, and the Jerusalem's Science Museum.

Consider making this an educational visit for your family. For discussion: What are the functions and inter-relationships between the three branches of the government - the Knesset, the government administration, and the judiciary﻿? And in what ways does the Supreme Court in Israel differ from that in other countries, such as the US and UK? A tour of the Supreme Court in English will help you with this last question. There is no charge for the tour, but it takes place only once a day. So plan to be inside the entrance of the Supreme Court before 12.00 PM (see below). The Overview should also be helpful. The Knesset also offers free tours in English several times a day.

Distance: 2¼ Km﻿

Time: About 1 hour of walking

Type of walk: Circular

Difficulty: An easy walk ﻿

Starting point: Corner of Sderot Yitchak Rabin and Yoel Zusman St. next to Cinema City .

﻿Public transport: Cinema City is served by many buses. Enter "Cinema City Jerusalem" into Moovit. ﻿

Directions and parking: Enter "Cinema City" into Waze.﻿ There is paid underground parking at Cinema City. The entrance to חניון הלאום is from Sderot Yitchak Rabin. ﻿﻿

OVERVIEW

ISRAEL'S SUPREME COURT - A PARADIGM OF JUSTICE OR A JUDICIAL DICTATORSHIP?

In 1949, after the War of Independence, the government of David Ben-Gurion declared Jerusalem to be the capital of the new State of Israel and their intention to move government ministries and institutions to the new capital, and specifically to Givat Ram. This hill formerly belonged to the Arab village of Sheikh Badr and was taken over by the Haganah during the 1948 War of Independence﻿. It had previously been used as an assembly point for the officers of the Gadna Youth Battalion and had been given the name Givat (Hill of) Ram, Ram being an acronym for the Hebrew words rikuz mefakdim - "gathering of commanders".

This hill has three ridges. One ridge was designated as a campus for the Hebrew University, another for cultural institutions, such as the Israel Museum, and the third, which you are now visiting, was assigned for government. ﻿

The Torah proclaims the supreme value of justice and that it should be the foundation of Jewish society: "Justice, justice shall you pursue, so that you will live and take possession of the land that the Lord your God gives you” (Deut 16:20). Understandably, therefore, the practice of justice has been placed on a very high pedestal in Israel, and this is reflected in the magnificence and symbolism of its Supreme Court building.﻿﻿

But what paradigm of justice should Israel's Supreme Court practice? Should it be that of the Bible and its accompanying oral traditions as developed by Judaism over thousands of years? Or perhaps it should be the liberal and humanistic traditions developed in Christian Europe over the last two millennia, traditions very much based on human rights? And if the latter - how would Zionism and the "Jewishness" of the state fit in? And how does one balance the rights of individuals versus the very real security issues the state confronts on a regular basis?

There is no consensus on these issues in Israel. Neither does Israel have a constitution, although it does have a collection of Basic Laws that serve a similar purpose. The bottom line is ﻿that justice in this country is far from being a simple matter!

Israel's Supreme Court functions as the country's highest court of appeals. It also acts as the High Court of Justice (Bet Mishpat Gavoha LeTzedek, more commonly known by its acronym "Bagatz" (בג"ץ﻿). In this role, the Supreme Court handles petitions from citizens and organizations regarding the legality of decisions of State authorities, and even the constitutionality of laws enacted by the Knesset. This very open policy means that the Supreme Court is extremely busy - about 10,000 cases a year compared to about 80 cases a year for the US Supreme Court!

About 20% of the court's activities are in the political arena, and the Supreme Court has established itself as Israel's most powerful institution with the ability to override the Knesset, the cabinet, the military, the civil administration for the territories, the Ministry of Religious Affairs – everybody in fact. ﻿ ﻿﻿﻿

﻿How did this strange situation arise? In 1992, former Supreme Court justice Aharon Barak put together a constitution for Israel based on two laws passed by the Knesset - "Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty" and "Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation". These two laws were passed by 27% and 19% of Israel's legislature respectively and never mentioned the word "constitution" or the notion of judicial review. However, three years later the Supreme Court held that these two Basic Laws constituted Israel's new "constitution" and that any new Knesset law would be subject to judicial review based on these Basic Laws. In effect, the Supreme Court had accomplished a judicial coup d'etat at the expense of the government. The judges of the Supreme Court are also not elected democratically but appointed by a selection committee comprised of 2 government ministers, 2 members of the Knesset, 3 current Supreme Court justices, and 2 representatives of the Bar Association. Elected officials are therefore a minority of this committee.

The reality is that this system has some advantages. It can dilute to some extent the stranglehold the ultra-religious have on the religious life of the State as result of their political power. However, it can also stymie the function of the Knesset. Issues of settlement and illegal immigration, for example, have become subject to the concept of human rights rather the will of elected representatives. Depending on the activism of the Court and the direction of the government, it is a system designed for controversy.

In particular, the right wing parties of the government have found dealing with the Supreme Court in matters related to the settlements in Judea and Samaria problematic. The Supreme Court holds that Judea and Samaria are "occupied territory" and its job is to protect the indigenous population. Many in the right wing, on the other hand, hold that Judea and Samaria are "disputed territories" and are keen to build settlements on state-owned lands. To dilute the powers of the Supreme Court, the Knesset has passed a new "Basic law" that emphasizes the "Jewishness" of the state. Judicial disputes regarding land matters in Judea and Samaria have also been transferred from the Supreme Court to lower courts more sympathetic to Jewish settlement.

So, is the Israeli Supreme Court a judicial dictatorship or a shining light to the nations on matters of justice? One could perhaps say that it is both. Having said this, the decisions of the Supreme Court are highly respected in the country, and its dictatorial powers make it the only institution with the ability to dig the country out of political impasses, particularly in matters related to religion.﻿

Two interesting facts about the judicial system in Israel. Israel does not use a jury system but a court of judges, usually three, and sometimes more. Also, prisoners are not handcuffed during their trial. Why is this? Jews tend to be very expressive with their hands, and it was thought that handcuffs would limit the ability of prisoners to express themselves!﻿ ﻿ ﻿﻿

The walk:

From Cinema City, cross Sderot Yitzhak Rabin on the pedestrian crossing and then turn left. Continue under the bridge and after a few minute's walking turn right onto James A De Rothschild St. The back of the Supreme Court building is on your right.

Shortly on your left is a memorial garden to the Palmach and Har’el Brigade . The recorded explanation in Hebrew and English is worth listening to.

The Har’el Brigade was one of three IDF (Israel Defense Force) brigades formed from the Palmach after the declaration of the state. Under the command of Yitzhak Rabin it fought tough battles in the Jerusalem corridor and in Jerusalem during the War of Independence. About a third of the brigade lost their lives. (See also the essay on "How the Palmach influenced the IDF" on the web page "Castel National Heritage Park").

Continue along Rothschild St. Just before the barricade, turn into the alley on your left. If you are stopped by a Knesset security guard, tell him you are heading to the Bird Observatory and you will have no problem proceeding. From the alley, take the first turning on the left to the Jerusalem Bird Observatory.

You will soon see two wooden buildings on your right and a visitor center on your left﻿. The wooden buildings overlook a pool and uncultivated land, and one of the buildings has benches conveniently set up for bird watching. The Visitor Center is open Sunday to Thursday 9.00 AM-3.00 PM.

Israel is a land bridge connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. Because of this, a large variety of migratory birds pass through the country twice a year. This bird observatory is an academic project that tags birds entering the observatory. In this way, with the help of the international community, the flight paths of these migratory birds can be determined. ﻿

When you have had your fill of bird watching, proceed to the Wohl Rose Garden by turning right after exiting the bird-watching building and then left up the steps just before the cemetery. Turn left at the top of the stairway onto Rothschild St. and very shortly there is a sign to the Wohl Rose Garden on your right. (If you have a mobility problem, retrace your steps back to Rothschild St., and the Wohl Rose Garden is on your left)﻿ ﻿

Enter the park by the walkway on the left. At the intersection with a map sign continue straight ahead and this will take you to a pretty Ornamental Lake with benches all around.

From this point, there are numerous small gardens that can be explored. My favorite is the Japanese garden , which is above the lake "waterfall". Go up the steps to the right of the pool and in front of the brick wall to a grass lawn, and shortly ahead are steps that lead down to the Japanese garden. This secluded spot with its waterfalls and sound of running water is a delight for relaxing or picnicking﻿. Continue discovering in the gardens. Depending on the season, don’t forget the roses. The park contains over 400 species of roses from around the world.

To exit the park, make your way back to the pool, and there is a path﻿ from there with steps leading down to the Knesset building. (For wheelchair users look at the map of the garden which indicates how to avoid the steps. The final two sets of steps on this path have ramps).

You are now back on Rothschild St. Turn left towards the bronze menorah , which is a short distance on your left. You may meet a security guard as you turn left, but state your destination and you will have no problem proceeding.

The menorah was one of the Temple vessels and it is now the symbol of the State of Israel. The design of this menorah accords with the relief on the Arch of Titus in Rome that illustrates some of the Second Temple treasures captured by the Romans.

The initiative for this project came from Lord Edwin Samuel, son of Herbert Samuel the first British High Commissioner to Palestine, who presented this gift to the Knesset. It was financed by donations from the United Kingdom and constructed by the Anglo-Jewish artist Benno Elkan. Carvings on its branches and stem﻿ depict events from the Bible and later Jewish history. These include (from the top left to the right) – Isaiah and his vision of the End of Days, Ezra the Scribe reading the Torah, David and Goliath, Moses during the battle with Amalek, Hillel the Elder teaching all of the Torah on one leg, and Jeremiah bewailing the wickedness of Israel. Above the pedestal and moving upwards you will see – Pioneers, Hear O Israel, the Warsaw Ghetto revolt, Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones, two women of the Bible (Rachel weeping for her children and Ruth the Moabite), the tablets of the Covenant, and again Moses during the battle with Amalek. (Note this is not a complete list of all the depictions). ﻿

Opposite the menorah is the Knesset Building , which can be visited. See below for admission details.

Retrace your steps and continue to the traffic circle on Eliezer Kaplan St.

This is also a good point for visiting the Israel Museum, Bible Lands Museum and the Science Museum, as they are all within a short bus ride and even walking distance from here. Turn left on Eliezer Kaplan St. if you are walking, or to the right for the nearest bus stop.

To continue on this walk, turn right onto Eliezer Kaplan St. ﻿Walking along this street, you will pass the Wohl Rose Garden on your right and government buildings on your left. Soon you will come to Sha'are Mishpat St. on your right that leads to the Supreme Court. The building is open to the public. You can view it on your own using the brochure provided, but a guided tour is very helpful or you will miss a lot of the symbolism of the architecture. See below for admission details.

Israel's Supreme Court was housed in Jerusalem's Russian Compound from 1948 until 1992﻿. Eight years before it opened in 1992, Dorothy de Rothschild suggested that a permanent home be constructed for the Supreme Court using funds from the Rothschild Foundation. She felt that this would be an appropriate way to commemorate the work that her late husband James de Rothschild had done for Israel. He had dreamed of such a project and even set aside funds for it. An architectural competition was held and this was won by a brother and sister architectural team.

The building they designed had three main sections: a square library wing containing a round courtyard with a copper-clad pyramid, a rectangular administrative wing with judges' chambers arrayed around a cloistered courtyard, and a wing containing five courtrooms extending like fingers from a great main hall.

Writing in the New York Times, Paul Goldberg calls this “Israel’s finest public building,” and writes further: “﻿There is no clear front door and no simple pattern to the organization. The building cannot be described solely as long, or solely as rounded, or as being arranged around a series of courtyards, though from certain angles, like the elephant described by the blind man, it could be thought to be any one of these." The building is rich in symbolism and is designed to bring together architectural elements from Jerusalem's past. ﻿﻿

Exit the Supreme Court and turn right onto Yoel Zusman St. At the corner of Sderot Yitchak Rabin and Yoel Zusman St. is a memorial to Agranet, a former President of the Supreme Court.

Cross the road to Cinema City. The front entrance is straight ahead of you.﻿The mall contains a large selection of stores, kosher cafes and restaurants. If﻿ you have kids, and even if you don't, make your way to the roof. A corridor off the central pool is marked "Dynamic Theater/Land of Bible/Visitor Center" and there is an escalator and elevator from here to the roof. The roof is open from 10.00 AM-5.00 PM and contains very realistic displays of Noah's ark and other Biblical scenes, with the corresponding Torah verses in Hebrew and English.

The Knesset. The building can be toured from Sunday to Thursday in the following languages: Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian and Amharic. The tour lasts about an hour and there is no charge. Tours in English are at 8.30 AM, 12.00 AM, and 2.00 PM. There are works by Chagall on the way to the Knesset foyer. Be aware of the Knesset dress code, as it is enforced. You will not be allowed in﻿ if you are over 14 years of age and are﻿ wearing shorts, ¾ pants, sleeveless shirts, shirts with political slogans, belly shirts, or flip-flops. Allow about ½ hour before the tour for the entry process. You will need a passport or Israeli ID to enter.﻿

The Supreme Court can be toured Sunday to Thursday﻿, except on days when special ceremonies are taking place. No advanced reservation is﻿ ﻿required. There is a free guided tour in Hebrew at 11.00 AM and in English at 12.00 PM. The guided tour takes about an hour and is valuable not only in pointing out the symbolism of the building (pick up an English brochure if you want more on this), but also in explaining how the court functions within Israel's legal system and how the high court differs from those of other countries. Time may also be allotted for questions. Their phone number is 02 675 9612.﻿

NEARBY PLACES OF INTEREST:

Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book is on 11 Ruppin Boulevard. It is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10.00 AM- 5.00 PM, Tuesday 4.00 PM- 9.00 PM (in August 10.00 AM-9.00 PM), Friday and holiday eves 10.00 AM-2.00 PM, and Saturday and holidays 10.00 AM-5.00 PM. Admission for adults is 54 NIS, students 39 NIS, children 5-17 years 27 NIS (but free on Tuesday and Saturday), and senior citizens 27 NIS and this includes an audio guide. Repeat visit within 3 months - 27 NIS. Free parking is available but may be limited. Folding chairs and wheelchairs are available. There are audio guides for some of the permanent exhibits. Exhibits are in the categories of Jewish Art and Life, Archeology, Art, Family Activities, model of Jerusalem in 2nd Temple times, and of course the Shrine of the Book and its Dead Sea scrolls exhibit. An excellent way for appreciating what this museum has to offer is to do a guided tour that is included with admission. They are offered once a week, on Sunday, in English, and are free with admission: Archeology 11 AM, Jewish Art and Life 1.30 PM, Synagogue Route 3.00 PM, Shrine of the Book and model of Jerusalem 3.00 PM. The museum has a café, and meat and dairy restaurants – all kosher. Their phone number is 02 670 8811.

Bible Lands Museumisat21 Shmuel Stefan Wise St., Museum Row. This claims to be the only museum of its kind in the world where the civilizations of the Ancient Near East are brought to life - from the dawn of civilization to the early Christian era. It is open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 AM-5:30 PM, Wednesday 9:30 AM-9:30 PM, Friday, Saturday, holiday eves 10.00 AM-2.00 PM. It is closed on Jewish holidays. Adults 44 NIS, student and child 22 NIS (but free to children under 18 on Saturday and Wednesday afternoons), Israeli senior citizens 20 NIS (10 NIS on Tuesdays), Jerusalem residents with a Yerushalmi card 32 NIS, and children under 5 free. Guided tours are free with Museum admission (and should be seriously considered for at least the first visit): Sunday in English 10:30 AM, and in Hebrew 11:00 AM. There is an additional tour on Wednesdays in English at 5:30 PM, Hebrew 6.00 PM, and on Saturday in Hebrew at 11:30 AM. There are also lectures on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 PM that are free with admission. The museum has a café. Their phone number is 02-561 1066

﻿Bloomfield Science Museumat 3 Museum Boulevard is a quality science museum guaranteed to keep your family well occupied. Some free parking is available at the Museum’s parking lot and there is also paid parking on the street. It is open Monday to Thursday 10.00 AM-6.00 PM, Friday 10.00 AM-2.00 PM, and Saturday 10.00 AM-5.00 PM. Closed on Sundays. Adults 45 NIS, children 45 NIS, children under 5 free, adults with a “Yerushalmi” card 36 NIS, families (parents and children under 18) 160 NIS, and senior citizens 22.5 NIS. Consider an annual subscription to the museum as it provides free entrance to some 300 participating science museums around the world. Their phone number is 02-654 4888.﻿

Map of the Rose Garden.

Noah's Ark on the roof of Cinema City is a treat for kids!

You may luck out and see an exotic bird at the Jerusalem Bird Sanctuary. This is a Kingfisher.

The Japanese Garden is one of several international gardens in the Rose Garden. With the sound of running water in the background﻿, it's a great place to relax or picnic .

The Ornamental Lake at the Wohl Rose Garden.

The Menorah outside the Knesset building with its pictorial display of Jewish history.